The Importance of Airbags and Seatbelts: Crucial Factors of Vehicle Safety
In case of a collision or an accident, airbags and seatbelts are the defensive tools that help prevent minor and major injuries. Airbags and seatbelts are two such modern vehicle additions that can also help prevent deaths in accidents, apart from injuries. Seatbelts work by providing the bodies of the people in a vehicle with the much needed support and prevent severe injuries and even internal bleeding in cases of accidents. Seat belts can thus also significantly reduce the occurrence of deaths during an accident. Airbags on the other hand, work by inflating to create a cushion like thing between the car’s interior and the person driving. This is a more important feature that can help in the event of an accident as it helps prevent head and chest injuries.
Airbags and seat belts work hand in hand in preventing injuries. They are a life saving combination. In this blog, you will understand more about car safety features, how airbags and seatbelts work and some benefits of airbags. So, brace yourselves, have a seat, and let’s embark on this journey of safe driving together!
Seat Belts: The First Line of Defense, How Seatbelts Work?
Seatbelts are definitely the first line of defense in case of an accident. By extending an opposing force against the body, seat belts help prevent the passengers and the driver from falling out during an accident. Let’s understand more about how seat belt’s car safety features work and help prevent injuries. The following are some points to consider:
Spreads Impact Force: When an accident occurs, there is immediate force from the opposite side. A seatbelt can help spread the impact of the force with the use of the lap and shoulder belt. This can significantly help minimize serious injuries.
Prevents Ejection: A seat belt helps prevent the body from getting ejected out of the car in case of an accident. It helps restrain the movement of the body and prevents the body from being moved around if the vehicle turns over or starts spinning out of control in an accident.
Reduces Speed Gradually: Another advantage of wearing seat belts is that, in case of a collision, it reduces the speed of the vehicle in a gradual way, in the sense that it prevents injuries from head hitting on the dashboard, steering wheel or side window. Wearing a seat belt can help keep people safely secure to the seat making sure that the body slows down and is restricted even if the vehicle stops suddenly.
How Do Airbags Work?
Airbags are those car safety features that are like inflatable cushions protecting the people in a car during a collision by inflating with a harmless gas to prevent them from getting hit in the car or with objects that can forcefully come from outside and crash on to the vehicle.
Sensors Detect a Collision: If the car is about to collide, the sensors help detect the collision and measure its severity. If it is a severe collision, then signals are sent to the car to inflate the airbag by releasing nitrogen gas.
Inflation: Nitrogen gas is released and the airbag is inflated in a fraction of a second to protect the people in the vehicle. This nitrogen gas and the function of an airbag and the smoke that appears when an airbag inflates is harmless and keeps airbag’s insides from sticking together.
Deflation: After performing its function and receiving energy from the person in the car, the airbag deflates from the vents that it has immediately.
How do Airbags Help Protect Lives in a Split Second?
Airbags really do help protect lives in a split second! In fact, it is even said that when a collision or impending accident is detected then the airbags help prevent severe injuries by inflating immediately and this inflation is so immediate that a person might not even realize what is happening. Some have although experienced hearing a bang like sound when the airbag inflates. Head traumas, broken bones, you say it, all of it can be prevented with this one of the car safety features, the airbags.
Complementary Protection with Seatbelts
Airbags certainly do work the best when it is paired with other car safety features like the seatbelts. Airbags and seatbelts provide a kind of double protection in case of accidents. Seatbelts help keep the people in the vehicle in their place and restrict their movement in case of accidents.
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS): Maintaining Control
When brakes are applied immediately when the driver suspects a collision, the anti-lock braking system is one of the car safety features that help prevent the car’s wheel from skidding by locking it up.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC): Preventing Skids
Electronic stability control is a computerized system that detects and senses a collision and its impact and immediately helps apply brakes, adjust the engine torque, preventing skids by controlling the vehicle.
Blind Spot Monitoring: Seeing What You Can’t
Blind spot monitoring is one of the car safety features that helps detect any objects or other vehicles in the blind spot and alerts the driver by sending cues and signals that can help them identify impending dangers and take the necessary measures to drive safely.
The blind spot monitor is a sensory device that is vehicle-based and is important in warning the driver of the things that aren’t usually visible to them.
Life-Saving Impact
All of these different car safety features like airbags and seatbelts, anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC), blind spot monitoring all are necessary to reduce the risk of severe injuries in accidents. It also ensures that the passengers and the drivers have a greater chance of survival in case of an accident.
These systems, measures and car safety features have evolved and developed over the years to ensure the safety of the people in the vehicle. Buckle up, and drive safe and with peace knowing that you have all the car safety measures in place to protect you always!